International Travel News articles from March 2001

International Travel News archives from March 2001

Report Cards.(on-the-spot reports from travelers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... On-the-spot reports from around the globe - The following is a sampling of reports received from ITN readers around the globe. ITN invites you to join our corps of reporters -- just drop a card in the mail while your travel impressions are...

Boarding Pass.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Dear Globetrotter: Stop blinking. There is something different about this issue. We're using a new font (typestyle) for the text. We're hoping it is to your liking and that you find everything as "readable" as before. We know this is...

Thailand fascinates -- from bustling city to jungle trails.
March 1, 2001... The butterflies in my stomach were going crazy. An elephant I was riding through the hot jungles of northern Thailand was absolutely fearless. Unfortunately, I couldn't say the same about me. My hair stood on end when the elephant waded across...

Travelers' Intercom.(readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
March 1, 2001... Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations Visa cards in Japan One or two ITN readers have noted problems using U.S. Visa cards at ATMs (automated teller machines) in Japan. Since I plan to go to Japan in a few months, I asked Visa about...

Earthquake in India.(Gujarat, India)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... An earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck western India's Gujarat state on the morning of Jan. 26, India's Republic Day. The epicenter was near the city of Bhuj. The quake was felt in Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, in some places...

Hold off on El Salvador.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to El Salvador because of adverse conditions in the country caused by the earthquake of Jan. 13. The President of El Salvador has declared a national state of emergency, and the...

Zanzibar, Tanzania, caution.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Zanzibar, including Pemba Island, remains tense following elections in October 2000. In addition to a series of isolated explosions in Zanzibar following the elections, a group calling itself the Freedom Fighters of Tanzania issued a statement,...

Philippines incidents.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... There has been a series of violent incidents in the Philippines recently which have made travel unsafe in certain areas. In view of these incidents and the possibility of future occurrences, Americans traveling or residing in the Philippines...

Mali robberies.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The Department of State urges U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Mali to avoid all nonessential road travel in the region surrounding Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal until further notice, due to increased criminal activity by armed groups in...

Parts of Malaysia.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The Department reiterates its announcement of Sept. 11, 2000, concerning attacks by members of the Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf group on parts of the Malaysian State of Sabah. Abu Sayyaf members continue to have a presence in the southern...

Democratic Republic of the Congo warning.(US travelers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The Department of State reiterates its longstanding warning to U.S. citizens against travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in light of the uncertain security situation and, in particular, the death of President Laurent Desire...

Funniest Thing.(Princess Cruise Lines)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... My wife and I were on Princess Cruises' Royal Princess out of Dover heading north in the Baltic to St. Petersburg. One day for lunch we used the Lido restaurant along with another couple. We observed a waiter moving from table to table...

Current warnings.(United States Department of State)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 28 destinations: Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Burundi, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Federal Republic of...

A sampling of Provence on a leisurely river cruise.(EuropAmerica Cruises)
March 1, 2001... Provence, in the southern region of France's Rhone Valley, has been captured in a series of books written by Peter Mayle: "Hotel Pastis," "Chasing Cezanne," "A Year in Provence" and "Encore Provence." Further romanticized in films, Provence...

Fascinating people of Ethiopia's Omo Valley.
March 1, 2001... We had long been intrigued by photographs we'd seen of Ethiopia's Omo Valley. Having already experienced two incredible journeys with Irma Turtle, owner of Turtle Tours, it was obvious that hers was the tour we should take. Under her...

ACCOMMODATIONS WORLDWIDE.
March 1, 2001... Hotels * B&Bs * Homestays * Apartments The following is a listing of some of the hotels, B&Bs, etc., in which ITN readers have stayed over the past year or so plus restaurants or sights nearby. Prices are those paid at the time of the...

Norway ... by land and by sea.
March 1, 2001... Ever since having done a school project on Norway (in fourth grade, I seem to recall), I have wanted to visit there -- particularly the fjords of the west coast. Finally, more years later than I care to admit, we did spend a week exploring a...

Gourmet package plus art class in Venice.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The Managing Director of the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy, Natale Rusconi, is the author of several books on international cuisine and restaurant techniques and is founder of the country's first international gourmet cooking school as well...

Personal butler in London.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... While all suites at the luxury hotel 51 Buckingham Gate in London feature personalized butler service, a small number have been appointed as Ivor Spencer Suites. These each feature a personal butler for 16 hours a day who will assist in...

Chatham Islands -- among the first to see the millennium light.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... In early 2000 I visited the Chatham Islands, which are among the "first to see the sun" -- and so, too, were among the first to greet the new millennium. They are part of New Zealand but are separated by more than 700 kilometers of sea from any...

TOURS IN REVIEW.(candid appraisals of some tours our readers have taken)
March 1, 2001... Candid appraisals of group tours The following are candid appraisals of some of the tours ITN readers have taken in the last year or so. Where possible, for comparison sake, different readers' appraisals of a particular tour company are...

UNESCO World Heritage Site -- Seychelles' Vallee de Mai.
March 1, 2001... As one of the many devotees of Patrick O'Brian, the recently deceased, brilliant novelist of the naval history of the Napoleonic Wars, I have long been fascinated by those campaigns in the Indian Ocean, in particular those involving the islands...

All Aboard!(travel between Belfast and Dublin, Ireland)
March 1, 2001... Enterprise between Belfast and Dublin Beside the Irish Sea, hay is arranged in yellow bales and rolls and the sheep. and cattle grazing on the green slopes are oblivious to the grand view. This length of Ireland is one of the most...

Cruises.(cruise ships to start service in 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2001... The building pace continues There is a large contingent of cruise devotees that seeks to be among the first to sail on the pristine new cruise ships as they enter service. This year will bring them plenty of opportunities to fulfill their...

Cruise Cavalcade.(Society Expeditions and Quark Expeditions offer cruises to Alaska/ Russia and North Pole)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2001... Upcoming ocean, sea, river or canal cruises New World Discoverer Russia offerings Society Expeditions is offering two adventure-travel "firsts" as it explores exotic reaches of remote Alaska and the Russian Far East aboard the...

TOURS: A selection of escorted tours.(England, Greece, Thailand, Egypt, Italy, Zambia, South Africa, Guatemala, Peru, Israel, Solomon Islands, Norway)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2001... "ENGLAND'S LAKE DISTRICT" -- 6-day walking tour. Walk to Ambleside or Bowness-on-Windermere, then travel by minibus to Grasmere to visit Dove Cottage, home of William Wordsworth. Stroll by Silver How and along the ridge that separates the...

The Discerning Traveler.(travel to Corsica, France, part 1)
March 1, 2001... Corsica -- a fabulousisle (First of two parts) I blinked my eyes as if willing the mist to separate, but I was captive, locked in an odyssey of fog. Suddenly a ray of bright light hit my book as the aircraft skimmed the snow-carpeted...

Rick Steves' Europe[C].(tips on trip planning)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2001... Tips for practical trip-planning Planning a trip to Europe? You're not alone. Springtime finds travel agencies buzzing with people busily forging their travel dreams. By getting an early start on your planning, you'll minimize stress and...

European Potpourri.
March 1, 2001... Eastern France respite "To your health and longevity!" The first course of my lunch on the flowered balcony of Hotel des Deux Forts is half a melon filled with red wine. There is easy access to the hotel, located in the Jura Mountains...

Adventure Travel--for the Mildly Adventuresome.(Salvador, Brazil)
March 1, 2001... Salvador, Bahia (Third of four parts on Brazil) Why visit a relatively unknown large Brazilian city when Rio is Brazil's best-known tourist destination? If you are the least bit interested in getting a bit off the main tourist...

Kilroy Was Here!(services for affluent folks who demand elegant luxury)(Intrav Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Beyond first class... The most common question mailed to travel publications is, "How can I travel for the least amount of money?" Cruise line executives will tell you that the lowest-priced cabins and the penthouse suites are the...

Heathrow relaxation lounge.(Heathrow Airport)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... At London Heathrow Airport, BAA (previously British Airports Authority) has launched the first of a series of premium "pay as you use" arrival and departure lounges which will be open to all passengers, no matter what airline or class of ticket...

NZ plus Tahiti.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Tahiti Vacations has introduced a "New Zealand Fly-Drive with Tahiti Bonus" package for $1,599 per person, double occupancy. Price includes round-trip air from Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui plus seven nights in New Zealand, four nights in...

'Paris Escapade'.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... "Paris Escapade," an 8-day/7-night vacation package priced at $1,795 (with New York departure), includes round-trip airfare on scheduled flights via United or Delta Air Lines; motorcoach transfers between Paris airport and hotel; luxury...

The French Experience mini-packages.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Following its "Provence in Your Pocket" program, The French experience has added "The Riviera in Your Pocket." Prices start at $392 per person, double occupancy, and include three nights' accommodation at the 4-star Hotel Croisette Beach...

'Free lunch' in Taipei.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Each Monday at the Rebar Crowne Plaza Hotel Taipei in Taiwan, when three people order lunch or dinner buffet at the Chinoiserie restaurant or lunch for three at Les Saisons, they will get one additional meal free. Also at the hotel, The...

Painting in the Dolomites.(Italian paint class sponsored by Spanish Steps)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Jorg Madlener (of Aspen, CO) will be teaching in an intensive 2-week Master Painting Class at the Academia Dobbiacco Centro Culturale in the heart of the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy in June and September '01. This hands-on...

Inns of Central America.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... The book "Incredible Inns of Central America - Lodging in the Bed & Breakfast Tradition" by Carol Schimke showcases a distinctive collection of charming, small establishments -- some over 200 years old -- in Central America. With lively...

Festivals in southern Italy.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... Following is a sampling of festivals taking place in southern Italy during summer 2001: * Feast of Santa Maria della Serra, July 13-15 (Montalto Uffugo, Calabria) -- Enjoy regional mushroom dishes and local wines. * Sagra del Pranzo...

BritRail Weekender Pass correction.
March 1, 2001... In the news item on page 188 of the February '01 issue, it should be noted that the offer for the BritRail Weekender Pass expired at the end of 2000 (not noted in the original press release). The information given on the France Weekender Pass...

Access to your medical records overseas.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... If you have to go to a hospital in another country, would the doctors have access to crucial medical information regarding your condition? For a monthly fee, The Travelers MD will keep your medical and dental records accessible (under...

Rent your own island in the Bahamas.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2001... You can rent your own island in the Bahamas -- great for family gatherings. Real estate companies there offer multiple choices for vacationers. Only islands with houses on them are available for rent. You can choose anything from an island...